Neumann wants those demographics to change, and she's encouraged about the industry's future because about 90 middle-school girls around the Coastal Bend signed up for Girls Code camp this summer at the Island University.

The three-week camp focuses on different aspects of computer science, with roughly 30 girls signed up for each course.

Neumann, a camp counselor, spent the week of July 17 preparing the girls to program unmanned ground vehicles that had to complete tasks and finish an obstacle course.

The girls have the freedom to code their vehicles the way they want.

"You don't have to follow a set of instructions, you can figure it out on your own," said Lily Stuart, a 10-year-old camper.

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Mia Ortiz and Karina Lopez make adjustments their robot during the Women in Technology camp's session titled Unmanned Ground Vehicles on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the Conrad Blucher Institute.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)

Many of the girls in the camp came in passionate to learn more about coding.

"It's nice to see their creativity and their ability and desire to try things outside the box," she said.

Seneca Holland, Girls Code camp director and an instructor at the university, said the computer science industry is lopsided when it comes to gender.

"Even though computer programming is growing, there's still far fewer women than men going into the field," Holland said.

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Raelynn Robriguez paints an obstacle course for her robot during the Women in Technology camp's session titled Unmanned Ground Vehicles on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the Conrad Blucher Institute.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)

She pointed to 2013 U.S. census data, which states women make up 26 percent of the computer science industry nationwide. In Texas, the statistic dips to 24 percent.

"Women bring a unique perspective to computer science," Holland said. "We fundamentally think about things differently and bring a different set of skills to the table. That can enrich the field."

Holland said camp organizers wanted to reach out to middle school girls, because reaching them early gives them the best chance of success.

"Computer science ebbs over time," she said. "We want to get them interested early."

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Sasha Sumabon drives a robot over an obstacle as Mia Ortiz takes video of it during the Women in Technology camp's session titled Unmanned Ground Vehicles on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the Conrad Blucher Institute.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)

The girls in the camp are aware of how few women are in the field.

"The stereotype is that boys are better than girls," Lily said.

That motivates the girls, who are proving they're capable of succeeding in computer science.

"It's a lot of fun, but it's hard," Lily said.

Camps like these may be the key to even the playing field for women, Holland said.

"I hope they feel comfortable with programming, and I hope they consider a future in the field," she said.

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Raelynn Robriguez paints an obstacle for her robot during the Women in Technology camp's session titled Unmanned Ground Vehicles on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the Conrad Blucher Institute.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)